Engineering Design Firms Research Articles

Emergency repairs downstream of earth and rockfill dams with water spring with indication of internal erosion

During periodic dam safety assessments, various anomalies are identified through field inspections, project documentation analysis, and structural behavior monitoring. These assessments aim to detect non-conformities, and engineering design firms propose technical solutions to address these issues. The primary goal of these reviews is to evaluate the overall state of conservation and structural safety, ensuring compliance with updated design criteria, revised standards, changing weather conditions, and technological advances. Dam renovations are crucial for enhancing operational capacity and preventive care. Implementing filtering materials within the dam's body establishes a drainage system to relieve internal pressures on the embankments and foundations. This prevents the washing away of soil particles due to internal erosion, known as "piping," a major cause of dam failures. Piping occurs when soil particles are displaced towards the outside of the embankment through the percolation process, particularly in the upstream area near the dam's base, where high hydraulic gradients and flows make it susceptible. This article presents a set of emergency or long-term solutions to address anomalies related to the onset of internal erosion in dams, with a focus on preventing piping. These solutions are vital for safeguarding the structural integrity and safety of these critical infrastructure components.

A Critical Analysis of the Philippine Construction Industry: Current Trends, Forecast, and Business Focus for Engineering Design Firms

The construction industry in the Philippines plays a vital role in the country's economic growth, infrastructure development, and job creation. The construction industry continues to be one of the predominant drivers of Philippines' economic progress. In 2022, an annual growth rate of 9.2% was obtained by the Philippine construction industry and continues to escalate brought by the flagship project of the former President Rodrigo Duterte, Build! Build! Build! Program (BBB). The current government plans to modernize the country’s infrastructure backbone, increasing construction jobs to maintain rapid growth, captivate investments and expand economic opportunities for all Filipinos. It is globally known that the construction industry regularly consumes more raw materials, resulting in scarcity with our natural resources and produced environmental implications. Therefore, the current engineering and construction industry moves towards green construction and buildings. The Philippine government has been actively promoting infrastructure development as a key driver of economic growth. The country will be the fastest growing construction market with an estimated six percent growth per annum, over the next 15 years. This study provided information on the current trends in the Philippine construction industry, forecasts its trajectory over the next five years, and highlights the necessary business focus for engineering design firms. Information obtained from the literature, project documents, memos, reports, and other data available served as primary inputs for discussion and basis for conclusions and recommendations.

Sources of challenges for sustainability in the building design – The relationship between designers and clients

Sustainability demands have changed the building design nature, which gained complexity due to the increased diversity of requirements, activities, agents, and tools. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has a potential to contribute to sustainability enabling the building integrated design, performance simulations, life cycle assessment and information use throughout the building life cycle. The aim of this paper is to investigate the sources of challenges in the relation between architectural and engineering (AE) design firms and clients (developers or private individuals) for promoting sustainability in the building design. Also, it is investigated if BIM has been implemented by the firms and how it relates to management and sustainability. The research method adopted is qualitative and participatory based on focus groups. Two groups were interviewed: eight AE design firms and six developers and/or construction companies. Analysing the research findings, the sources of challenges that were identified are the lack of definition and communication about the stakeholders’ sustainability approach; the lack of a more detailed design scope and required qualifications by the clients, but also the lack of business management and firm’s performance evaluation processes by designers; the traditional project delivery systems, traditional work relationships, tools and processes that do not support the collaboration needs. In addition, AE design firms’ organization affects the client relationship and design quality including the consideration of sustainability issues in the design solutions. The sources are found in the AE design firm’s processes of strategy planning, business and marketing, design, people, and knowledge management. So, further research will be carried out about managerial and organizational capabilities of AE design firms for sustainability and BIM.

Sources of Challenges for Sustainability in the Building Design—The Relationship between Designers and Clients

Sustainability demands have changed the building design nature increasing the diversity of requirements, activities, agents, and tools. The aim of this paper is to investigate the sources of challenges in the relationship between architectural and engineering (AE) design firms and clients for promoting sustainability in the building design. Additionally, this study investigated the building information modeling (BIM) deployment by the firms that supports sustainability. The research method adopted is qualitative and participatory, based on focus groups. Two groups were interviewed, eight AE design firms and six developers and/or construction companies, gathering the points of view of service providers and their clients. The identified sources of challenges around sustainability include lack of communication and imprecision of definition, requirements, and scope. Additionally, management issues include performance evaluation, traditional work relationships, tools, and processes that do not support collaboration needs. In addition, AE design firms’ organization affects the client relationship and design quality, including the consideration of sustainability issues in the design solutions. The sources are found in the AE design firm’s processes of strategy planning, business and marketing, design, people, and knowledge management.

Building Professional Practices Knowledge and Integration Levels of Energy Efficiency Design Features in Selected Office Buildings in Abuja, Nigeria

This study investigated the extent to which building professional practices in Abuja, Nigeria are knowledgeable and integrate 29 energy efficiency design features in selected office buildings in the study area, with a view to making contributions on how to enhance users' comfort and satisfaction within office environments. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 80 participants drawn from architectural and engineering design firms in the study area. The survey data were analysed by descriptive statistics, and the key finding is that the knowledge and integration levels of the energy efficiency design features in the selected office buildings by the sampled firms, are high. Appreciably, 71% of the respondents declared that they are aware of the energy efficiency design features in question, while only 29% of them acknowledged having little or no knowledge of any of the features investigated. On the level of integration of the features in office buildings, 64% of the firms stated that they have integrated some of the features, while 35% of them declared not to have integrated any of the features under investigation in this study. One of the recommendations of the study is that relevant professional bodies of the building industry should provide forums such as seminars and training workshops towards promoting the benefits of energy efficiency design features in communities, thereby fostering better understanding and wider deployment of the features by more building design and construction professional practices. This will ultimately help in reducing global warming and the adverse effects of buildings on the environment, both locally and globally in the long run.

Corporate memory dynamics in project-based organizations (PBOs): multiple case study in Brazilian engineering design firms and a framework proposal

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how the processes of memory acquisition, retention, retrieval and application occur in project-based organizations (PBOs). In this kind of organization, the nature of corporate memory is influenced by the transience, uniqueness and independence of the project portfolio. Such understanding may help practitioners to mitigate the effects of project transience and promote knowledge sharing among project teams.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical and qualitative study was carried out through a multiple case study approach conducted in three Brazilian Engineering Design Firms, which are organized by projects. Document analysis, direct observation and semi-structured interviews with engineers, project managers and executives were conducted.FindingsThe memory acquisition process takes place in five forms which have different sources and destinations when comparing PBOs with traditional organizational settings. Memory retention in PBOs crosses organizational boundaries and establishes a knowledge network of former employees and third parties. The PBOs project memory can be divided into volatile and perennial memory, where the former can be lost throughout project execution and the latter is internalized, becoming an inseparable part of the corporate memory. Memory retrieval in PBOs is also distinct since it has particular mechanisms depending on whether the knowledge is technical or administrative.Originality/valueThe research investigates the corporate memory processes within the volatile context of PBOs in a Latin-American developing country whose culture favors tacit knowledge exchange. The paper proposes a framework that unveils different patterns of knowledge acquisition, temporary and perennial retention structures, intensive usage of external knowledge in memory retrieval and particular memory applications in PBOs. The framework may guide scholars, project managers, engineers and practitioners in navigating through the uniqueness of organizational learning flows and structures in PBOs.

Management and environmental sustainability – guidelines for architectural and engineering design firms

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to draw up management guidelines on environmental sustainability for architectural and engineering design firms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is derived from a research experience between 2010 and 2018. That experience comes from three source sets: Management Development Program for Design Firms from the Research Line of Management Design, Department of Civil Construction Engineering, University of São Paulo in Brazil; papers including a doctoral thesis; and literature review. Revisiting and investigating processes were conducted by research questions, resulting in lessons learned, management difficulties and guidelines.FindingsThe guidelines were drawn up from a strategic sphere, understanding internal and external factors to the firm, diagnosis of the firm's management and sustainability, a building sustainability plan, implications of the plan for management processes, plan monitoring and control and plan evaluation.Research limitations/implicationsThe studies were mostly conducted in Brazil, and one of them in the USA. Other studies could be carried out in other countries comparing findings or implementing the guidelines.Practical implicationsThe findings will provide feedback to Management Development Program for Design Firms (PDGEP) in the action research method. Moreover, the knowledge about firm's capabilities can advance understanding of architectural and engineering (AE) design firm management as support for sustainability, performance and building information modeling (BIM).Originality/valueArchitectural and engineering design firms are hardly discussed; design is treated in the building project context, giving prominence to technical solutions, not to management ones.

The impacts of ethical climate on knowledge contribution loafing among designers in engineering design firms: mediated effect of knowledge leadership

PurposeKnowledge contribution loafing as one of the major obstacles to knowledge sharing among designers in engineering design firms impedes better achievement of engineering design. The purpose of this paper is to examine different types of ethical climate impacts on knowledge contribution loafing among designers through the mediating effect of knowledge leadership.Design/methodology/approachBy adopting a quantitative research design, data were collected using a survey questionnaire from 352 designers in engineering design firms. The data were analyzed using the partial-least squares structural equation modeling approach to test hypotheses.FindingsEthical climate is an important factor to affect knowledge contribution loafing among designers, and three types of ethical climate (self-interest, social responsibility and law/professional codes) have different degrees of influence on knowledge contribution loafing. In addition, knowledge leadership can alleviate knowledge contribution loafing, and it is a mediator between ethical climate and knowledge contribution loafing.Practical implicationsEngineering design firms should cultivate and strengthen the role of social responsibility, law/professional codes and knowledge leadership and reduce the influence of self-interest to mitigate the negative of knowledge contribution loafing among designers.Originality/valueBy identifying ethical climate as a novel influence factor for knowledge contribution loafing, this research further highlights the role of different types of ethical climate in an engineering design context. Moreover, it delves deeply into the issue around different types of ethical climate affect knowledge contribution loafing among designers through the role of knowledge leadership. This broadens the understanding of how ethical climate affects knowledge contribution loafing among designers in the engineering design organizations and enriches knowledge management literatures in engineering design industry.

RBF-trained POD-accelerated CFD analysis of wind loads on PV systems

PurposeWind loading calculations are currently performed according to the ASCE 7 standard. Values in this standard were estimated from simplified models that do not necessarily take into account relevant flow characteristics. Thus, the standard does not have provisions to handle the majority of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems. Accurate solutions for this problem can be produced using a full-fledged three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Unfortunately, CFD requires enormous computation times, and its use would be unsuitable for this application which requires real-time solutions. To this end, a real-time response framework based on the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method is proposed.Design/methodology/approachA real-time response framework based on the POD method was used. This framework used beforehand and off-line CFD solutions from an extensive data set developed using a predefined design space. Solutions were organized to form the basis snapshots of a POD matrix. The interpolation network using a radial-basis function (RBF) was used to predict the solution from the POD method given a set of values of the design variables. The results presented assume varying design variables for wind speed and direction on typical PV roof installations.FindingsThe trained POD–RBF interpolation network was tested and validated by performing the fast-algebraic interpolation to obtain the pressure distribution on the PV system surface and they were compared to actual grid-converged fully turbulent 3D CFD solutions at the specified values of the design variables. The POD network was validated and proved that large-scale CFD problems can be parametrized and simplified by using this framework.Originality/valueThe solar power industry, engineering design firms and the society as a whole could realize significant savings with the availability of a real-time in situ wind-load calculator that can prove essential for plug-and-play installation of PV systems. Additionally, this technology allows for automated parametric design optimization to arrive at the best fit for a set of given operating conditions. All these tasks are currently prohibited because of the massive computational resources and time required to address large-scale CFD analysis problems, all made possible by a simple but robust technology that can yield massive savings for the solar industry.

BIM based Design Management of a Building Project Collaboratively Designed with a Foreign Design Firm in China

In parallel with China's growing construction market, there has been an influx of foreign architectural and engineering design firms into the Chinese construction market. Those firms generally form partnerships with local Chinese firms or institutions to overcome various complications in the country. Adding to the complexity, relatively recent technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) also started to play a role in those collaborative project design management efforts in China. This paper presents an in-depth case study of a complex building design project collaboratively executed using BIM by a foreign design firm from the USA and local Chinese firm in China. The project was analysed from different design management and stakeholder perspectives. Some of the findings confirm the pervious accounts from the literature. New insights and the key lessons learned for BIM based design management in this context are also presented.

Evaluating innovation diffusion readiness among architectural and engineering design firms: Empirical evidence from Australia

Abstract This paper conceptualises the development of an innovation diffusion readiness (IDR) framework used for monitoring innovation diffusion maturity levels within the architectural and engineering design (AED) firm context. To achieve this, a survey was conducted with a number of Australian AED firms, using a validated survey instrument developed elsewhere. The key findings based on the study sample of 158 professionals representing 44 AED firms showed that the overall level of IDR among the sampled firms was moderate to high. Using cluster analysis, three main clusters of these firms were uncovered: Very High, High and Moderate IDR. Further analysis indicated that clusters with higher IDR appeared to perform significantly better in diffusing innovative design practices. This finding highlighted that firms shifting to a higher IDR cluster could achieve a significant improvement in the diffusion of this type of innovation. The paper also provided a number of recommendations for future research.

Foreign architectural and engineering design firms’ competitiveness and strategies in China: A diamond model study

There is an increasing number of Foreign Architectural and Engineering Design Firms (FAEDFs) operating in China as a result of the Chinese government’s efforts to open its construction market to the international community. These FAEDFs face competition from both local and foreign rivals. This study aims to investigate the competitiveness of FAEDFs in the dynamic environment of the Chinese construction market. The diamond model technique is adopted to reveal the development mechanisms for the competitiveness of FAEDFs in China. Data used in the analysis comes from multiple sources including literature survey and interviews conducted at two major cities (i.e. Shanghai and Beijing). Key factors that need to be considered during the formation of strategies for FAEDFs in China are highlighted. The research indicates that there are a number of factors contributing to or impeding the development of the competitiveness of FAEDFs in China. The elements identified in the Diamond model analysis provide critical inputs for FAEDFs to formulate strategies to survive and sustain growth in China.

Intellectual Capital: A Competitive Asset for Driving Innovation in Engineering Design Firms

:Intellectual Capital (IC) is recognized as a key strategic asset for organizational performance, and innovative solutions and its management is critical for the competitiveness of organizations. The aim of this article is to analyze the relationships among intellectual capital, competitiveness, and innovation drivers in engineering design firms of the Turkish construction industry. The research involves a questionnaire survey administered to engineering firms on intellectual capital constructs, competitiveness, and innovation drivers in construction. The article provides details on how firms can leverage their intellectual capital as the main competitive asset for innovative solutions to offer their clients.

Benchmarking Current Conceptual High-Rise Design Processes

This paper presents an analysis of current conceptual design processes for high-rise buildings. We synthesize a method to document and measure these processes and use it to analyze data from several case studies and a survey of leading architectural and engineering design firms. We describe current high-rise conceptual design process in terms of the following: design team size, composition, and time investment; clarity of goal definition; number and range of design options generated; number and type of model-based analyses performed; and the criteria used for decision making. We identify several potential weaknesses in current design processes including lack of clarity in goal definition and a low quantity of generated and analyzed options. We argue that potentially higher performing designs are being left unconsidered and discuss the potential reasons and costs.

The role of climate for innovation in enhancing business performance

PurposeInnovation and the process of diffusion have been widely acknowledged as hinging upon the complex social psychological process. Invariably, such a process manifests itself in the form of “climate” in an organisation, which influences people's behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the roles of a facet‐specific climate, namely “climate for innovation” in determining innovation‐related outcomes. In particular, this paper focuses on interrelationships and roles of specific constructs forming such climate. Additionally, this paper attempts to determine the efficacy of innovation by examining the relationship between outcomes of innovation diffusion and business performance.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model incorporating three climate for innovation constructs including leadership, team, and organisational culture along with two constructs addressing innovation diffusion outcomes and business performance was developed. Statistical analyses, specifically exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM), were conducted based on the data collected from a questionnaire survey of 181 design professionals employed in Australian architecture and engineering design (AED) firms. EFA was employed as a preliminary step to ascertain the factors underlying each construct, and SEM was sequentially utilised to determine the factor structure of the model and to assess the relationships between model constructs.FindingsThe results revealed that perceived organisational culture functions as a gateway to the diffusion of innovation, by mediating the relationships between leadership and team climate, and innovation diffusion outcomes. More importantly, it was found that all pathways to innovation diffusion outcomes originated from the leadership construct, highlighting its critical role in creating a supportive culture that fosters and nurtures innovation. Finally, the findings warranted the benefits of innovation by demonstrating its significant contribution to business performance in AED firms.Originality/valueThe study presents an empirically developed model depicting pathways that explain the mechanisms of climate for innovation constructs in determining the degree of innovation diffusion outcomes and business performance. The model can potentially form the foundations of a framework for firms seeking to diagnose their existing condition and use such findings to enhance the diffusion of innovation that could, in turn, strengthen their business performance.

Exploiting Knowledge Management: The Engineering and Construction Perspective

Construction companies have always relied on their knowledge assets to provide services to clients. In recent years the terminology “knowledge management” has been introduced. Knowledge management (KM) seeks to formalize the manner in which companies exploit their knowledge assets by harnessing organizational knowledge, promoting greater collaboration between groups with similar interests, capturing and using lessons learned on previous projects, etc. This paper investigates how major United States engineering design and construction firms are implementing knowledge management initiatives in order to identify best practice. It adopts a case study methodology to investigate companies’ strategy and implementation, people aspects, and metrics for performance. The study finds that there is a clear distinction between the knowledge management activities undertaken by large engineering design firms and those of construction firms. There is also a much greater emphasis on knowledge sharing, which is just one com...

Project Manager Workload—Assessment of Values and Influences

This work presents the results of a data-gathering survey of civil engineering design and construction firms to determine the number of projects that are assigned to project managers and to identify the factors that are used to determine a manager's workload. Analysis shows that most often a project manager is responsible for between 1–9 projects with the experience of the manager being the single most important influence in a firm's determination of workload. The management approach to the project, the complexity of the work, and the timing of the project are also found to be key influences. Recommendations summarize the survey findings and outline possible future research on the topic.

Managing a Branch Office

Today's engineering and architectural design firms are faced with an increasing challenge: satisfying the aggressive entrepreneurial spirit of their young engineers. Firms are growing due to the pressures of rehabilitating and expanding an aged infrastructure and satisfying the needs for facilities in the burgeoning growth areas of the country. With this growth come scores of young graduate engineers armed with the basic technical knowledge, but also preconditioned with all the marketing and managerial savvy of the new era—the new market. Or at least they think they are, and in five to ten years if you haven't developed and satisfied those creative juices in the star performers, they will be working for someone else or themselves. This growth, coupled with the market's demand for regional services, provides excellent opportunities for these young engineers. Firms are opening regional offices and acquiring other organizations at a record pace, and each one offers an opportunity to satisfy a young engineer's need to run his own show but do so within the framework of your organization. This presentation examines the hows and whys of regional office and subsidiary management by the home office in such a way as to promote and challenge while maintaining the corporate image, quality, and name, and not stifling the entrepreneurial spirit. If you are properly managing your remote operations, you are keeping those managers happy and productive contributors to your organization.

A new model for successful management of engineering design firms — “superpositioning”

A SuperPositioning model for successful management of engineering design firms is discussed which allows firms to be categorized within a matrix bounded by two primary drivers, their engineering Design Techology (how they do their work) and their Values (the primary reward thrusts or motivations of the owners). Technologies are separated into Strong Idea (Brains), Strong Service (Gray Hair) and Strong Delivery (Routine Procedure). Values are divided between Practice Centered Business and Business Centered Practice. The firm's Design Technology affects the optimal way it should handle Project Design, Project Decision Making, Middle and Lower Level Staffing, Markets, What it Sells, What it Can Charge, and Best Management Style. Its choice of Values impacts the Organization Structure, Organization Decision-Making, Staffing at the Top, How it Markets, Best Clients, Marketing Organization, Profit Strategy, Reward and Management Style. Firms that optimize their strategies for these elements to match their choice of drivers are observed to perform better for their clients and in terms of their owner's satisfaction.

Organization and Control of Engineering Design Firms

Over the past decade, the character of major U.S. civil engineering design firms has shofted from partnerships to hierarchical corporate structures. Since many large c.e. firms have information systems geared both to their prior organizational structure and to obsolete MIS technology, they are now experiencing the need to update their systems and for face new management issues. This paper introduces the new MIS capabilities and describes the mix of hierarchical and matrix structures found in typical large A/E firms. Using a typical set of organizational objectives, appropriate accountability measures and their uses are suggested. Uses of desirable conflicts are then proposed in order to attain timely data entry and reliability of information. Some example system characteristics are proposed to illustrate the support of objectives and utilization of conflicts. These include issues of profit center and cost center accounting, including transfer pricing on fees and costs, integration of manpower planning with estimates to complete, and use of system information as a single data source.